Introducing the Timeline

Click the Timeline button on the play bar to open the Timeline Editor.

The Timeline Editor is where you edit animation keys and clips for actors, props, cameras, image layers, sounds, music, etc.

A. Track Selector

1

Track list

Click the Track drop-down list and select the items, in order to show/hide them and their master track buttons.

2

Object-related track

When you pick an item on the 3D viewer with this button down, the Timeline will only display the tracks of the picked item.

B. Motion Tracks

1

Item Name and Main Track Buttons

  • This track shows an item's name and its master track buttons.
  • Click on the name to select the item.

    • 2

    Track Buttons

    Click these buttons to show/hide the master tracks of the picked item.

    Button Status:

    • - Show all of its main tracks.
    • - Hide all of its main tracks.

    Track Button that contains multiple master tracks:

    • Facial - Voice Clip, Facial Clip and Facial Motion master tracks.

    3

    Main Track Name and Data

  • This track shows the name and its data.
  • Click on the name to select the item.
  • Double click on the name to select all the data in the track.
  • Click the Cross icon beside the track name to hide the track.

    • 4

    Display Sub-Tracks

  • Click this arrow button to show all sub-tracks.

    • 5

    Sub-Tracks Drop-down List

  • Click this drop-down list in order to show/hide sub-tracks.

    • C. Toolbar

    1

    Next, Previous
    (Tab, Shift + Tab)

  • Click these two buttons to snap the play head back to the previous, next keys or start-frame clip.
  • The key or clip will be automatically selected.

    • 2

    Add key

  • The Add Key button only works for the Transform, Opacity tracks, the Head, Face, Eye and all T sub-tracks under the Facial and Motion main tracks.
  • Double-click on the timeline cell area to add a key, or press this button.
  • Keys can also be automatically added when users alter any key information in the Modify Panel.

    • 3

    Cut/Copy/Paste/Delete

  • Cut: Click the Cut button to cut the target key, or clip, in the clipboard.
  • Copy and Paste: Click on the copy and paste button, or use hotkey Ctrl + C on selected keys or clips to copy, and Ctrl + V to paste to the target frame (single or multiple keys)
  • Delete: Click on the Delete key or Delete button to delete highlighted keys or clips.

    • 4

    Group and Ungroup

  • Click the Group button to collect keys into one clip for easily copying and moving.
  • Click the Ungroup button to extract the keys inside of a clip and bring them into corresponding tracks.
  • Both buttons only work in the sub tracks under Facial and Motion button.

    • 5

    Break

  • Break works for Clip type data in all tracks/groups except for clips in the SoundTrx item.
  • Click the Break button to split the selected clip at a current frame into two new clips.

    • 6

    Loop/Speed Switch

  • The Loop/Speed Switch button works to Clip data in all tracks/groups except for clips in the SoundTrx item.
  • Press the Loop/Speed Switch button UP and drag the clip's right edge rightward/leftward to decelerate/accelerate the speed.
  • Press the Loop/Speed Switch button DOWN and drag the clip's right edge rightward to repeat the clip.

    • 7

    Music Modify

  • Click this button to show a panel to modify the clips under the SoundTrx item.

    • 8

    Insert Frame

  • Click this button to insert a designated number of frames into the current time frame in order to increase the length of the project.
  • You may also use this feature to insert frames for individual object without affecting the length of the project.

    • 9

    Delete Option

  • Click this button to delete a series of selected frames in order to decrease the length of the project.
  • You may also use this feature to delete frames for individual objects without affecting the length of the project.

    • 10

    Zoom in/out
    (+, -)
    Actual size
    Fit window

  • Click the Zoom in/out buttons to increase or decrease the time (cell) unit size.
  • Click the Actual Size button to show the time unit represented as 30 frames per second.
  • Click the Fit window button to view all the timeline items within the timeline window space.

    • 11

    Play and Stop

  • Click the button to play the project, click again to pause.
  • Click the button to stop playing.

    • 12

    Current Frame

    This field shows the current frame number on the timeline. You may also type-in the frame number to jump to the target frame. This allows you to go to your precise target location; this is especially convenient for animation with clear timing control.

    D. Time Scrub

    1

    Time Unit Bar

  • Drag the bar to move the displayable range to a desired time frame.
  • Drag the right edge to change the size of the displayable range.

    • 2

    Play back and Export Range

  • Drag the two flags to decide the range for playing back or exporting.

    • 3

    Play Head

  • Drag to move to the desired time frame.

    • Dockable Timeline

    The floating Timeline can be docked under CrazyTalk Animator main program.